Type | Online newspaper |
---|---|
Founder(s) |
|
Editor | Eoghan McNeill |
Founded | 3 April 2021 |
Political alignment | Left-wing [1] [2] |
Headquarters | 71 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 (PO box) |
Website | OnTheDitch.com |
The Ditch is an Irish political news website established by journalists Eoghan McNeill, Roman Shortall, Chay Bowes, and businessman Paddy Cosgrave in April 2021. [1] [3] The website has focused on investigative journalism and investigations into politicians and since its creation has broken news stories in Ireland relating to politicians which have resulted in two Ministers of State resigning from office.
The Ditch was founded by Paddy Cosgrave, Roman Shortall, Chay Bowes and Eoghan McNeill. Paddy Cosgrave is the primary financial backer of the Ditch via his Web Summit organisation. [2] [4] Cosgrave is the organiser behind the Web Summit conferences, which in the early 2010s were hosted annually in Dublin. [5] However, in 2016 Cosgrave pulled Web Summit from Dublin and moved it to Lisbon, Portugal following an argument with the sitting Fine Gael government over a number of issues including grants. [2] Since that dispute, Cosgrave has been described as holding a "grudge" against Fine Gael which has motivated him to support the company. [2] [6] [7] [8] The Ditch maintains Cosgrave has no editorial influence over the publication. [2]
Eoghan McNeill is a journalist who had formerly worked for the Irish Independent, China Daily, and the Cork News. He had also worked for Cosgrave's Web Summit in the past. [1] [2]
Chay Bowes, a friend of Cosgrave's, [9] was a founding member of the Ditch. Bowes had previously been involved in supplying information about Leo Varadkar providing a copy of a confidential document on GP contracts to Maitiú Ó Tuathail, president of the National Association of General Practitioners, in a story which was broken by Village Magazine. [9] Bowes resigned his directorship at the Ditch in June 2022. [10]
In October 2022, The Phoenix opined that it remained sceptical about the supposed non-influence of Cosgrave over the editorial direction of the website. It also remarked that for a website created by people with a background in technology, the website was formatted like it had been "designed by a transition-year student". [2]
In a January 2023 podcast, Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy of The Irish Times stated they welcomed the arrival of The Ditch into the Irish news and media scene, stating they believed that the more scrutiny applied to public figures and politicians in Ireland, they better governance it would produce, regardless of if it was a new or old media source producing that scrutiny. [11]
On 27 April 2023, the Ditch was discussed during a session of Dáil Eireann. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar questioned the neutrality of the Ditch while Tánaiste Micheál Martin called the Ditch a "political organisation" that is outrightly biased against the governing coalition (Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party). [12] [13] Both Varadkar and Martin asserted that former Ditch member Chay Bowes had questionable links to Russian media such as Russia Today, and cited tweets from Paddy Cosgrave linking him to the Ditch. Paul Murphy of People before Profit defended the Ditch and suggested that Robert Troy would not have lost his position as Minister of State had it not been for the Ditch's investigation. [12] [13] On the same day, the Ditch issued a statement denying the allegations made by Varadkar and Martin and stated the organisation is funded by subscribers to the website and by Paddy Cosgrave's Web Summit organisation. [4] The following day, on 28 April, the National Union of Journalists criticised Martin's remarks regarding the Ditch, and the use of Parliamentary privilege to make those remarks. [14]
The Ditch was originally owned by Roman Shortall, Chay Bowes, and Eoghan McNeill, who each had a third of the company. [15] Adam Connon, general counsel for Cosgrave's Web Summit, is one of three shareholders in the organisation as of April 2023, the other two being McNeill and Shortall. [4] [16]
The site claims to rely upon a voluntary subscription service and donations for income, as well as contributions from the Web Summit organisation. [1] [2] [4] On 30 April 30, 2023, the Ditch stated it will receive €1,000,000 over five years from Web Summit. [17] The Ditch has yet to file a set of accounts, as of January 2023. [15]
Paddy Cosgrave is the primary financial backer of the Ditch, although he has no shareholding or directorship in the company. [2] [4] The Ditch maintains Cosgrave has no editorial influence over the publication. [2]
Following comments on social media about the 2023 Israel–Hamas war by Paddy Cosgrave, Cosgrave was forced to resign as CEO of Web Summit on 21 October. [18] [19] [20] On 7 November the remaining board members at the Web Summit pulled all promised funding from the Web Submit for the Ditch. [21]
The publication's first piece to gain traction was a story about discrepancies and undeclared conflicts of interest at An Bord Pleanála which resulted in the resignation of chairperson Paul Hyde. [22] [2] [1] The publication followed up their initial articles by publishing an internal ABP report about "matters of concern" within the planning body in February 2023. [23]
In August 2022 the Ditch broke the story that government minister of state Robert Troy had failed to declare a number of property interests. [2] [1] [24] On 24 August, Troy resigned as a Minister of State, insisting he had made genuine errors with his statutory declaration while saying he would not apologise for being a landlord. [25] [26] [27]
In January 2023, the Ditch published a story claiming that minister of state Damien English failed to declare ownership of an existing home in his planning application for a new property in 2008. It also claimed he neglected to declare such ownership in the Dáil register of interests. [28] [29] English resigned as Minister of State on 12 January 2023. [30] [31]
In January 2023, allegations that Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and President of the Eurogroup, had failed to declare donation of services in his 2016 election campaign were launched by the Irish Examiner and Irish Independent. The minister later admitted to discrepancies in his 2020 campaign. [32] The Ditch published several articles about the politician during the following weeks regarding his meetings with the donor Michael Stone, the donor's position on state regeneration boards, and the Minister twice failing to declare directorship of a company. [33] [34] [35]
Fine Gael is a liberal-conservative and Christian-democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil Éireann and largest in terms of Irish members of the European Parliament. The party had a membership of 25,000 in 2021. Leo Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny as party leader on 2 June 2017 and as Taoiseach on 14 June; Kenny had been leader since 2002, and Taoiseach since 2011.
The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann and the office-holder must retain the support of a majority in the Dáil to remain in office.
Micheál Martin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who is serving as Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Defence since December 2022. He served as Taoiseach from 2020 to 2022 and has been Leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork South-Central since 1989. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2011 to 2020 and held various Cabinet offices under Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen.
The Government of the 20th Dáil or the 14th Government of Ireland was the government of Ireland formed after the 1973 general election held on 28 February 1973. It was a coalition government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, known as the National Coalition, led by Liam Cosgrave as Taoiseach with Brendan Corish as Tánaiste. It was the first time either of the parties had been in government since the Government of the 15th Dáil (1954–57), when they were in coalition with Clann na Talmhan.
The 1977 Irish general election to the 21st Dáil was held on Thursday, 16 June, following the dissolution of the 20th Dáil on 25 May by President Patrick Hillery on the request of Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave. The general election took place in 42 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas, an increase of four seats with a significant revision of constituencies under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974. The election is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth-century Irish politics. Jack Lynch led Fianna Fáil to a landslide election win, clearly defeating the outgoing Fine Gael–Labour government.
The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in the Government of Ireland, which is headed by the Taoiseach, the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet – is composed of ministers, each of whom must be a member of the Oireachtas, which consists of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. Most ministers have a portfolio of specific responsibilities such as departments or policy areas, although ministers without portfolio can be appointed.
Simon Coveney is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment since December 2022 and Deputy leader of Fine Gael since 2017. He previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2022 and Minister for Defence from 2014 to 2016 and again from 2020 to 2022. He has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency since 1998. He previously served as Tánaiste from 2017 to 2020, Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government from 2016 to 2017 and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine from 2011 to 2016. He also served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency from 2004 to 2007.
This is a list of records relating to the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland, which consists of the President of Ireland, and two Houses, Dáil Éireann, a house of representatives whose members are known as Teachtaí Dála or TDs, and Seanad Éireann, a senate whose members are known as senators.
Frances Fitzgerald is an Irish politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the Dublin constituency since July 2019. She is a member of Fine Gael, part of the European People's Party. She previously served as Tánaiste from 2016 to 2017, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation from June 2017 to November 2017, Minister for Justice and Equality from 2014 to 2016, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from 2011 to 2014 and Leader of Fine Gael in the Seanad from 2007 to 2011. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1992 to 2002 and 2011 to 2019. She was also a Senator for the Labour Panel from 2007 to 2011.
Leo Eric Varadkar is an Irish politician who has served as Taoiseach since December 2022, and previously from 2017 to 2020. He served as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from June 2020 to December 2022. He has been Leader of Fine Gael since June 2017, and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin West constituency since 2007. He previously served under Taoiseach Enda Kenny as Minister for Social Protection from 2016 to 2017, Minister for Health from 2014 to 2016 and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2011 to 2014.
Paschal Donohoe is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform since December 2022 and President of the Eurogroup since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Central constituency since 2011. He served as Minister for Finance of Ireland from 2017 to 2022, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform from 2016 to 2020, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2014 to 2016 and Minister of State for European Affairs from 2013 to 2014.
Fine Gael is a political party in Ireland, formed in 1933 as a merger of Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Centre Party, and the Blueshirts.
The Leader of Fianna Fáil is the most senior politician within the Fianna Fáil political party in Ireland. Since 26 January 2011, the office has been held by Micheál Martin, following the resignation of Taoiseach Brian Cowen as leader of the party.
The Leader of Fine Gael is the most senior politician within the Fine Gael political party in Ireland. Since 2 June 2017, the office has been held by Leo Varadkar following the resignation of Enda Kenny.
Web Summit is an annual technology conference held in Lisbon, Portugal. Founded in 2009 by Paddy Cosgrave, David Kelly, and Daire Hickey, Web Summit was originally held in Dublin, Ireland until 2016, when it moved permanently to Lisbon. The conference's topics center on internet technology, emerging technologies, marketing and venture capitalism. Web Summit's partners range from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, with attendees representing all levels and sectors of the global high technology industry.
The events surrounding the formation of Ireland's government in 2016 took place during March, April and May of that year, following the general election held on 26 February, which failed to produce an overall majority for any of the country's outgoing political alliances and resulted in a hung parliament.
The 2017 Fine Gael leadership election was triggered in May 2017, when Enda Kenny resigned as party leader. Voting began by members of Fine Gael and Young Fine Gael on 29 May 2017. On 2 June Leo Varadkar was announced as the victor, beating rival Simon Coveney. With Fine Gael being the governing party at the time, this election effectively appointed a new Taoiseach for Ireland.
There have been two Governments of the 33rd Dáil, both coalition governments of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. This followed the 2020 general election to Dáil Éireann held on 8 February, and negotiations on a programme for government that lasted till June. The parties agreed on a rotation, with the two major party leaders alternating as Taoiseach. The makeup of the parties resulted in a centrist coalition. It was the first time that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have participated in the same government, which Leo Varadkar described as the end of what has often been referred to as Civil War politics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and affected the political system of the Republic of Ireland, causing suspensions of legislative activities and isolation of multiple politicians due to fears of spreading the virus. Several politicians have tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The Katherine Zappone controversy, also known as the Merrion Hotel controversy or Merrion Gate, was a political scandal in Ireland involving associates and former colleagues of former Minister for Children Katherine Zappone who attended an outdoor gathering at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, on 21 July 2021, six days prior to her controversial appointment as UN special envoy.
He sees Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's stewardship of Ireland's housing market as "appalling mismanagement"...But it seems to me to be as important to Cosgrave to dismiss all Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael representatives as "useless"...While he dismisses the various flare-ups and spats in which he has become embroiled as "just good craic", Cosgrave's recent history would suggest settling scores matters to him.
Relationships between Enda Kenny and Paddy's project became strained after the government at the time was accused of not giving the Web Summit sufficient support. Paddy switched the venue to Lisbon, as was his right. Relations between him and Fine Gael have been abysmal ever since. Most of the bitching has, surprisingly, come from Paddy, despite his dazzling success in Lisbon. He tweets obsessively about Leo. It is as though he has never forgiven Fine Gael for not recognising his great value to Ireland. He seems to be a guy with a grudge, gloating.
First reported by The Ditch (Eoghan McNeill and Roman Shortall), Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy - Minister of State with responsibility for trade promotion - has come under scrutiny for failing to declare a second home, among other issues.